Kentucky made it onto good, bad and ugly lists in 2012

There’s a list for just about everything. And Kentucky has been making many of them all year.

But it’s not always for the best reasons. Kentuckians have high rates of heart disease, diabetes and other problems. And financially, the state government is on shaky ground.

Still, Kentucky has been recognized by national groups and publications for its good qualities.

So here’s an unvarnished round-up of the good, the bad and the ugly of Kentucky’s appearances in various rankings this year:

About Ryan Alessi

Ryan Alessi joined cn|2 in May 2010 as senior managing editor and host of Pure Politics. He is now pursuing an advanced degree in non-fiction writing from Murray State University and is a regular contributor to Pure Politics. Ryan has covered politics for more than 14 years, including seven years as a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Ryan can be reached at purepolitics@twcable.com or @mycn2 on Twitter.